James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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Friday, November 26, 2010

Here’s a question in recognition of America’s traditional big shopping day. Where do you get most of your art supplies? Please take the poll at left. Multiple answers are OK. If I’ve missed a source, please mention it in the comments.

I'd love to buy from my local art supply store, except I don't have one. Also, the sad truth is that the prices in local stores are usually WAY more than those online. I was a Blick girl for a long time until I discovered that ASW Express usually has the best possible prices.

I tend to get them generally from Baker's, a local independent art store, for really nice brushes and paints. But I often get my pads from places like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. After that, I get specialty items (individual Copic markers, less common brush series) from online stores like Dick Blick and specialty online stores, like JetPens, Otaku Fuel, and Blue Line Pro.

Utrecht and Plaza Art. The only Pearl Paint that was convenient in my area shut down, but that wasn't a very tragic occurrence because it was poorly managed and constantly out of stock of basic supplies.

Gee, can the poll choice be called Jerry's Artarama rather than Jerry's catalog? The word Artarama is pretty special, even showing up in Zippy the Pinhead strips once in a while. And, while I only do it when they offer free shipping or 30% off -- which brings their prices down within shouting distance of others -- I do order from Daniel Smith a few times a year, primarily for their own line of watercolor paint.

While in Florence, I've been using the local store, Zecchi's, for my supplies. Back in Chicago, I usually go to Utrecht out of convenience... it was literally under my school. Before our it closed, I would sometimes hop on the El to go to Pearl Paint.

I get some stuff on Ebay as you can save a LOT of money that way. But Dick Blick for everything I can't get there.Also I like Utrecht, but don't get downtown so much anymore. Someone at Blick said Utrecht has kraft paper sketchbooks so I need to get there again. I have gotten very into drawing on non-white paper lately.

Lucas1000: the Pearl on Chicago Ave closed? Huh. too bad. I always wanted to get back there.

The Art Students' League in NYC has a pretty good little store just off the lobby. Convenient, too, if you need something for a class. And New Tradition makes panels with a wide choice of size and surface - they also cut to order, I think.

I am also lucky in that one of my "local art stores" is the massive Daniel Smith Art Supply. My other local art store is in the Artist & Craftsman small chain, which is entirely staffed with artists, and has very good prices, especially once you consider the cost of shipping.

Honestly I get supplies from all over the place. Learning the strengths and weaknesses of the local art stores in Vancouver is pretty key. I'v never been able to rely on one, and even though it's frustrating I know exactly where to go to get the right kind of gear I'm looking for. Dick blick is not without it's flaws either. Though it boast wholesale prices the crazy shipping costs can make up for that.

We used to have a Pearl and a small local store, both cramped, badly lit and poorly maintained. Now the Pearl has gone out of business, and the local shop's the only one left, and they do things like let consumers take the protective caps off the brushes and "test" them, which invariably leads to their ruination.

So I've been reduced to paying shipping costs from online stores. Alas. :,

Michael's is great. Watch their clearance sales. I got the bristol I use for comics for 75% off. Bought out the store. Then last summer, a sale on watercolor paper: $8/sheet marked down to 33 cents/sheet. Bought out the store again.

We have another store Hobby Lobby that has some things. Never any clearance sales, but good sales. Their regular prices are lower than Michael's, generally.

I buy a large portion of my supplies at out local Utrecht store. They seem to have competitive pricing, quality pro grade stuff and good selection.I get my stuff same day, so if I didn't plan ahead, I can still get it when I need it. I also end up getting stuff wherever I find it, even the hardware store for things like hardboard panels, rags, etc.

I get my art supplies from Michael's, just because it's close (like, half a mile away close). But they usually don't have the best selection and their prices tend to be less than optimal, so if I'm looking for something specific I'll usually go online.

We order school supplies from Dick Blick because they tend to have a wider selection. If I have to go out and get something I used to go to Michaels...unfortunately they tend to be a bit pricier and with a limited selection in our parts...that is when I discovered Hobby Lobby. They seem to always have a sale on items we use and a bit bigger selection...plus if you haven't seen their miniatures they have some higher end dinos...of course those seem never to be on sale... : (